Stories matter. And yesterday, at London’s Guildhall, some extraordinary tales were told. The great old venue played host to a unique and very special gathering of police officers, emergency services colleagues and members of the public. Welcomed jointly by the Met, BTP and the City of London Police, they came to honour those who responded... Continue Reading →

In any walk of life, it seems to me that there is a bit of a difference between bad management and good leadership. All the difference in the world in fact. So here’s a (by no means exhaustive) list of the sorts of things that might just be evident wherever bad management is to be... Continue Reading →

In the world inhabited solely by those in possession of armchairs and agendas, it would appear that everything ought to be a priority for the police. But, in the real world inhabited by police officers and staff, things are a little less straightforward. In that other world, the police should be doing more of this... Continue Reading →

Where on earth to begin? I’m not going to waste your time with some clumsy attempt to set out my feminist credentials but – in a world of pussy-grabbing presidents and molesting movie moguls – I do want to put on record the fact that I’m troubled by the way in which we (men, mostly)... Continue Reading →

September 21st 1992. The day I took the oath and began an adventure – a love affair – that has continued for the last 25 years. I love policing. When you strip away all the noise and the nonsense, it turns out to be as extraordinary as a job can be. It’s about saving lives... Continue Reading →

Two particular news reports have caught my eye in the last few days. The first was about vehicle rentals – specifically the call for a robust review of current UK procedures for hiring vans. In response to the horrifying European terrorist attacks of recent months, it was suggested that the authorities ought to make it... Continue Reading →

Let’s deal with the title question straight away. Actually, I don’t think it is time for a Royal Commission on policing in this country. I don’t think it’s time for anything that has the potential to be drawn out, bureaucratic and enormously expensive. But I do think there is an urgent need for a proper,... Continue Reading →

In March of this year – in the immediate, horrifying aftermath of the Westminster Bridge terrorist attack – we discovered and expressed a renewed sense of appreciation for our police officers: for who they are and what they do. The following month, we lined the streets in our thousands as the funeral cortege of PC... Continue Reading →